Is it possible to upgrade the RAM on Apple silicon devices?

Question

In a manner similar to the storage on Apple devices, is it possible for the RAM on Apple silicon devices to be upgraded?

Answer 1

In theory, it is possible to perform a RAM upgrade on Apple silicon devices. The process is similar to upgrading the storage which repeats the process of replacing the unified memory chips using a hot air station. But that is even tougher and involves greater risk of damaging something which is why a higher level of skills and specialized tools are necessary.

Comments

Luke I want to see you guys do this again, please! Two things I want to see: 1) definitely try this with RAM instead of SSD someday, and 2) try this on a MacBook Pro, preferably an M2 Pro or M2 Max model (that’s the one I have ) and see how high can you go…
The ultimate would a a “MAXED M2 Max MacBook Pro!” content where you upgrade a base spec M2 Max to 4 or 8 TB storage and 96 GB RAM! Then I could do that and save thousands instead of getting an M3 Max model

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definitely would be interested to see you attempt the upgrade with the RAM on the system, and also on M2. really cool stuff!

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I just came back from Colin's content and it would be great if a RAM swap was attempted. I'll go back to Collin to suggest the same. Both contents BTW were absolutely tense as well as informative and entertaining. Great work!

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Definitely would love to see an M2 upgraded. I'm glad that it's possible, but also frustrated by how locked down and difficult it is. I remember when I upgraded my old 2011 MacBook Pro from 8 GB RAM to 16 GB, back in like 2013 / 2014, and it was super easy to do. I understand why they want to have control over it, but I don't agree with it. It feels like Apple underestimates how many Mac users are actually technically proficient and capable of doing something the right way - or maybe they know and are just hiding behind ignorance as an excuse, because all the rhetoric I've heard is basically "We can only have professionals do this"...

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I like the way this channel is going… you’re getting more involved than ever before! Next I’d like to see M2… but I’d also really like to see you upgrade the unified memory - in an M1 iMac specifically - from 8 to 16 GB. An idea for future content!

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Now I'm wondering if it's possible to upgrade the ram beyond what these machines are offered with. I wanna see a M1 or M2 with 32 GB of ram.

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I really dislike soldered components.
also lot of admiration for dosdude1, great soldering skills.

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For the RAM is actually a valid reason to have it soldered, because getting it close to the chip means you can run it faster, but storage there is litterally no other reason than that Apple wants to take you for a ride, and honestly they could keep their stupid pricing if they used commidity SSDs or just had a slot for a comodity SSD.